Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to being struck by fragments to plastic pipe used to transport compressed air, in the event the pipe ruptures: a) In Repair shed and Bandsaw Building, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe was used to transport compressed air in exposed above ground locations, a practice not recommended by the Plastic Pipe Institute and prohibited by ANSI/ASME B31.8-1986 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping System Standard, on or about 3/14/90. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to replace the PVC piping with a type of pipe that is approved for transporting compressed gases in exposed above ground locations, such as metal pipe.